Panthers Notes: Newton sacked 7 times

Cam Newton is sacked by Denver's Von Miller during the Panthers' 36-14 loss to the Broncos on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

John Clark/Halifax Media Group

By Phillip Gardner

Published: Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 11:24 PM.

CHARLOTTE — Whatstarted well didn’t end that way for Carolina in Sunday’s offensively-challenged 36-14 home loss to Denver.

After scoring a touchdown on their second possession, the Panthers ended with 250 total yards of offense — their second-lowest total of the season, better only than their 190 yards in a 16-12 loss to Seattle.

“That was an embarrassing loss,” tackle Jordan Gross said. “That’s a good team. Everybody knows that. The defense played their tails off. They gave us a chance to win, and we didn’t do anything on offense. It was as bad a day as I can remember.”

Cam Newton passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked seven times and intercepted twice.

The Jack Del Rio-coordinated Broncos defense also came up with a safety when Mike Adams sacked Cam Newton in the end zone with 10:32 remaining to give Denver a 29-7 lead. Del Rio served as Panthers defensive coordinator in 2002.

Tight end Greg Olsen was the Panthers’ brightest spot, hauling in nine passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Olsen’s 4-yard TD pass from Newton gave the Panthers a short-lived 7-0 lead at the 6:46 mark of the first quarter.

CHARLOTTE — Whatstarted well didn’t end that way for Carolina in Sunday’s offensively-challenged 36-14 home loss to Denver.

After scoring a touchdown on their second possession, the Panthers ended with 250 total yards of offense — their second-lowest total of the season, better only than their 190 yards in a 16-12 loss to Seattle.

“That was an embarrassing loss,” tackle Jordan Gross said. “That’s a good team. Everybody knows that. The defense played their tails off. They gave us a chance to win, and we didn’t do anything on offense. It was as bad a day as I can remember.”

Cam Newton passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked seven times and intercepted twice.

The Jack Del Rio-coordinated Broncos defense also came up with a safety when Mike Adams sacked Cam Newton in the end zone with 10:32 remaining to give Denver a 29-7 lead. Del Rio served as Panthers defensive coordinator in 2002.

Tight end Greg Olsen was the Panthers’ brightest spot, hauling in nine passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Olsen’s 4-yard TD pass from Newton gave the Panthers a short-lived 7-0 lead at the 6:46 mark of the first quarter.

But once Denver claimed its first lead early in the second quarter, the Panthers couldn’t answer. Kevin Vickersontallied two sacks while five other players recorded one each for the Broncos.

“We knew once they got the lead they were going to unleash those pass rushers,” Olsen said.

Defensive end Elvis Dumervilwas one of those with one sack but left the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter and never returned. The Panthers couldn’t take advantage of his absence.

The Panthers managed only 52 yards on the ground on 21 carries, with Jonathan Stewart’s 31 yards on eight carries leading the way.

Newton’s 5-yard TD pass to Olsen with 5:09 remaining allowed the Panthers to avoid tying the 36-7 debacle against the Giants for the lowest scoring output of the season.

Newton: blame goes around

When asked if he was frustrated with the offensive line after he was sacked seven times, Newton said there were plenty of things that went wrong.

“I think it’s more frustrating to lose the football game,” Newton said. “We’re going to have days like that. That’s the same offensive line that did an excellent job a lot of times today, so I’m not thrashing them. I don’t expect anyone to thrash them. Those same guys are capable of doing things.”

Newton completed 21 of 36 passes and carried four times for seven yards.

“I think personally I have to do a better job getting the football out, getting it out to my outlets,” Newton said. “Someone else’s mistakes have to be brought up by another player. Whether it bemyself, the running game, receivers catching it, we’ve just got to make it happen.”

A week after the Panthers went on the road to beat the Redskins 21-13, Newton pointed at himself when it comes to the 2-7 team’s inconsistency.

“I attribute that to the person in the mirror,” Newton said. “I challenge myself to be better, and any competitor would do that. It’s not something the opposing team is doing because we have our opportunities.”

Happy Holliday

TrindonHolliday had a great day as Denver’s return specialist, with his biggest highlight a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown at the start of the second quarter. The score gave Denver a 14-7 lead.

The return didn’t deter the Panthers from continuing to kick to the former LSU star, as Holliday finished with eight punt returns for 125 yards — a 15.6-yard average. Holliday also returned two kickoffs for 44 yards.

The game marked the second time Holliday took a punt to the end zone against the Panthers this season. He was wearing a Houston jersey when he returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown during the preseason before the Texans cut him.

Holliday’s speed is also well-known in the track world as qualified for the 2007 World Championships in the 100 meters but didn’t compete.

The Panthers rolled out black jerseys and black pants for the first time in franchise history. … A large percentage of Peyton Manning and Broncos fans helped produce the third-largest Bank of America Stadium crowd this season as the number of distributed tickets was announced at 73,939. That ranks behind the Dallas (73,981) and New York Giants (73,951) games this season. It also ranks sixth all-time in franchise history and fifth at Bank of America Stadium. The best Panthers crowd was 76,136 against the 49ers in 1995 at Clemson. The highest total at the current stadium was 74,113 versus Tampa Bay in 2008. … Manning was efficient early on his way to a 27-for-38 outing for 301 yards and a touchdown. … Manning in the first quarter threw his 420th career touchdown, moving him into a tie with Dan Marino for second-most touchdown passes in NFL history. … The Panthers fell to 1-3 against the Broncos, with Carolina’s lone breakthrough a 30-10 win in 2008. … Denver won its fourth straight game and is averaging 34 points during that stretch.